In the absence of enough funds for overall development of its area, the East Corporation has now decided to start taking aid from corporate groups. HT reports.

In the absence of enough funds for overall development of its area, the East Corporation has now decided to start taking aid from corporate groups.

Tapping into funds that companies spend under corporate social responsibility, the municipal body on Thursday tied up with Tech Mahindra Foundation to open a teachers' training centre and signed an MoU.

The civic body will provide space and infrastructure such as furniture while Tech Mahindra Foundation will provide the trainers. Called the 'In-service Teachers' Training Institute', the centre will become operational from the upcoming academic session.

"Timely upgradation of teachers' skills is a must to provide quality education to children. The new training institute will help in training all the serving teachers with latest and modern education methodology and teaching techniques. The institute will also train school principals and education department's supervisory staff," said East Corporation Commissioner SS Yadav.

There are nearly 5,300 teachers on rolls in 390 corporation schools where about 2.5 lakh students study.

"The training institute will be converted into a modern school to evolve modern teaching techniques. It will be student-friendly. In a way, the school will like a practical lab of the institute," said Yadav.

The training programme, subject matter, training module, schedule and the related infrastructure such as video-conferencing will be developed by the Tech Mahindra Foundation.

The project is a part of the corporate social responsibility of the company.

The East Corporation on Thursday has also decided to start a 'I Love Reading' programme in its primary schools. An NGO called Katha will identify academically weaker students and give them extra classes.